Born in 1962, British Jamaican photographer Maxine Walker lives and works in Birmingham. Her photographs raise questions about the nature of identity, challenging racial stereotypes. She contests photography’s documentary ability by replicating specific photographic styles, such as in her early series Auntie Linda’s House (1987). Her Black Beauty series from the 1980s and her untitled series for the ‘Self Evident’ exhibition in 1995 both utilise self-portraiture.

See her work at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London

Display: 16 February 2015 – 24 May 2015. Staying Power: Photographs of Black British Experience 1950s-1990s is a project to increase the number of black British photographers and images of black Britain in the V&A collection. It aims to raise awareness of the contribution of black Britons to British culture and society, as well as to the art of photography.

From left: Light Up a Girl’s Life project manager with Members of the Black European Women’s Council at the EESC.

With roots stemming back to 2007 with The Vienna Declaration the Black European Women’s Council (BEWC) is set to revive itself. The first step was a face-to-face meeting with some of the board members representing Austria, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Talking with Minister Kyenge.

In addition to discussing the future of the BEWC we had the honor of meeting with Minister Kyenge, Italy, thanks to our Italian board member, Dr. Susanne Mbiye.

Minister Kyenge’s Global Citizenship Award for her groundbreaking work on immigrant rights fro children in Italy.

Minister Kyenge has received global recognition for becoming the first black women in the Italian Parliament and for her position on granting citizenship to the children of immigrants born in Italy. She has also received verbal abuse from her colleagues in Italy.

With Minister Kyenge. She is grace personified.

Despite her hectic schedule including plenary and other meetings that day Minister Kyenge greeted each one of us with a warm handshake and parted with a kiss on the cheek. She, I can attest, is grace personified.

We are pleased to announce the start of the journey to the 3rd edition of Miss Africa Netherlands (Miss Africa Netherlands 2015-2016).

Are you the Next Miss Africa Netherlands? Do you have the Poise, Eloquence, and Charisma? Are you determined to be a Role Model and Ambassador for Change in your Community? Do you have what it takes to be Miss Africa Netherlands 2015-2016? We are looking for you.

This is a once in a life-time opportunity to be the change that you want to see in the world.

We urge all contestants to visit our website, read and understand all the rules therein prior to filling the application form to become Miss Africa Netherlands 2015-2016 Queen.

We wish you all a fun filled journey to the Crown.

We are also calling on individuals, groups, organizations and business who may be interested to sponsor, volunteer and or become a Matron/Patron, vendors, photographers, MUAs, Designers, Stylists and those willing to advertise with us, to please send us an e-mail indicating their interests.

Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeriawas published by Granta in January 2012 to brilliant reviews and was chosen by the Financial Times Life & Artsas one of the best books of the year, and by The Sunday Timesas Travel Book of the Year 2012.

‘Humorous and affectionate … Saro-Wiwa is fiercely honest and compassionate about a country most tourists travel miles to avoid’ Sunday Telegraph

‘Remarkable … in this deftly woven account Saro-Wiwa tells us more about Nigeria than most academics do in a lifetime’ Spectator

‘An affectionate and irreverent guide that peels away many of the clichés that envelop Nigeria’ Observer

Noo is the daughter of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, the illustrious Nigerian author, human rights activist and environmentalist. She will be signing books after the event.

For any enquiries, please contact Dr. Yvonne Reddick on yreddick@uclan.ac.uk.

Special writing workshop with Noo for UCLan staff and students

Noo will be running a special writing workshop from 15.00 to 16.30 on the 16th of March, for UCLan staff and students. Noo will be answering questions about her writing, the publishing industry, and a career in writing. Room TBA.